Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. played only one snap in Week 6 against the Bears after missing practice all week with a calf injury. Rodriguez is now off the injury report heading into Sunday and should be expected to play a bigger role. He did, however, drift back into a depth role in Week 5 against the Chargers. He played only four snaps in the first three quarters while rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt handled the bulk of the touches. All five of Rodriguez's carries in that game came in the fourth quarter when Washington was leading by two scores. Croskey-Merritt will likely lead the backfield again, leaving Rodriguez with only a handful of touches against a Dallas defense that has been repeatedly gashed by opposing running backs. He's safe to leave on waivers for Week 7.
Oct 17, 2025 9:53 PM EST
Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. (calf) is officially active for the Monday Night Football game against the Chicago Bears in Week 6 despite not practicing all week. Rodriguez, rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt, and Jeremy McNichols had been operating in a committee backfield after the season-ending injury to Austin Ekeler (Achilles) earlier this year until last week, when Croskey-Merritt took hold of the lead-back role in a breakout performance in the win over the Los Angeles Chargers. It's unclear if Rodriguez will be limited at all on Monday night, but we'd expect him to take a clear back seat to JCM once again against Chicago. The 25-year-old RB should be viewed as a pretty shaky touchdown-dependent RB3/flex in fantasy lineups on Monday. In the last three games, Rodriguez has just over 100 yards rushing and no touchdowns on 23 carries.
Oct 13, 2025 7:33 PM EST
Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. (calf) is currently listed as questionable ahead of the Week 6 matchup against the Chicago Bears. It doesn't look good for Rodriguez who has been able to practice all week due to a lingering calf issue. Despite that, Rodriguez still has a chance to suit up for Monday's game. When healthy, Rodriguez hasn't done much with 23 carries for 105 yards and zero touchdowns. If active, Rodriguez figures to play a reserve role with Jeremy McNichols while Jacory Croskey-Merritt serves as the lead back.
Oct 11, 2025 6:50 PM EST
Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. (calf) was unable to practice on Friday. This marks back-to-back days that Rodriguez has been sidelined due to a lingering calf injury. He'll get one more chance to practice on Saturday ahead of the Monday night matchup against the Chicago Bears. If he sits, Jacory Croskey-Merritt should see his role increase in the backfield. The rookie back rushed for 111 yards with two touchdowns on 14 attempts in Week 5. He could see more carries if Rodriguez is unable to play.
Oct 10, 2025 6:55 PM EST
Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. (calf) was a notable addition to the team's Week 6 injury report due to a calf injury that kept him from taking part in the first practice of the week on Thursday. Rodriguez still has a couple of days to return to practice, but this puts his availability for Monday night's game against the Chicago Bears in question. If the 25-year-old cannot play this week, rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt could have a second straight heavy-volume day in the backfield. The Commanders had been using a committee backfield approach with Rodriguez, Croskey-Merritt, and Jeremy McNichols until the rookie took a season-high 14 carries for his first career 100-yard rushing day and two touchdowns in last week's win over the Los Angeles Chargers. Rodriguez has seen his usage drop, going from 11 carries in his season debut in Week 3 against the Raiders to five carries on Sunday for just five yards.
Oct 9, 2025 9:37 PM EST
Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. has led the backfield in carries and rushing yards over the last two weeks, compiling 98 yards on 18 attempts. Rodriguez has served as an early down hammer back this season, with him being brought up to the active roster after Austin Ekeler was lost for the season in Week 2. Rodriguez has tied for the lead in snaps with rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt in the past two weeks and should continue to be involved on early downs and in short distances. He faces a tough test against a Chargers defense that has given up the fewest amount of fantasy points to running backs this season. Rodriguez is best left out of lineups for Week 5.
Oct 3, 2025 9:42 PM EST
Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. was a healthy scratch for the first two weeks of the season. However, following veteran running back Austin Ekeler (Achilles) suffering a torn Achilles in Week 2, Rodriguez Jr. leads Washington in carries (18) across the team's past two games. The Commanders are employing a three-way split in the backfield, with Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Jeremy McNichols seeing a fair number of touches as well. Still, Rodriguez Jr. has been efficient (5.4 yards per rush attempt) and could be the team's preferred early-down and goal-line back. Rodriguez Jr. is tough to trust as a fantasy starter unless he starts commanding a larger share of Washington's backfield workload. Still, he should be rostered in deep leagues of 14 or more teams, given the opportunity for a true lead back to emerge for the Commanders.
Sep 30, 2025 11:51 AM EST
Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. recorded seven carries for 59 yards in his team's 34-27 Week 4 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. Rodriguez Jr. has now recorded 18 carries for 98 yards in the two games since Washington lost veteran back Austin Ekeler (Achilles) to a torn Achilles tendon. The Commanders' backfield appears to be a three-way split between Rodriguez Jr., Jacory Croskey-Merritt, and Jeremy McNichols. All three backs have limited fantasy appeal while they are splitting touches. Still, Rodriguez Jr. should be rostered in all leagues of 12 or more teams, as he has a chance to eventually emerge as the clear early-down workhorse in Washington.
Sep 29, 2025 10:18 AM EST
Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. could lead the team's backfield in rushing attempts during Week 4 against the Atlanta Falcons. Washington is still trying to figure out its rushing identity with Jayden Daniels (knee) sidelined and Jaylen Warren (Achilles) done for the year. The Commanders operated out of a committee last week, but it was Rodriguez who led the way with his team-high 11 carries for 39 yards. Although the 26-year-old handled the bulk of the volume, his teammates were responsible for finding the end zone; both Jeremy McNichols and Jacory Croskey-Merritt scored touchdowns. Fantasy managers will likely need Rodriguez to score a touchdown or catch a couple of passes to justify starting him as a top-36 running back this week. With that said, volume is king, and if there's a running back to start in Washington this week, Rodriguez may be the answer.
Sep 28, 2025 9:26 AM EST
Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. led the backfield in carries last week against the Raiders and ran well overall, gaining 39 yards on 11 rushes. His role for Week 4 against Atlanta could look similar. In the team's first game without Austin Ekeler, Rodriguez surprisingly started at running back and began with four straight carries to begin the game. The rotation afterwards was a bit sporadic, with Rodriguez and Jacory Croskey-Merritt both splitting most of the work, and then Jeremy McNichols subbed in on pass downs and handled a few touches. The situation remains very fluid in Washington's backfield, and it could remain unclear for the coming weeks. Rodriguez is set up as the hammer back who can grind out tough yardage, and he tied Croskey-Merritt with two goal-line carries last week. There is upside for a touchdown plunge for Rodriguez in Week 4.
Sep 26, 2025 9:40 PM EST
Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. led the backfield with 11 carries in Week 3 against the Las Vegas Raiders, and reports have surfaced on Thursday that Jacory Croskey-Merritt (knee) was officially a non-participant at practice due to an injury. With that in mind, Rodriguez is someone who, should JCM miss time, could handle lead-back duties and be a sneaky play in Week 4 against the Atlanta Falcons. It's important to note that JCM still has the opportunity to practice on Friday. Regardless, Rodriguez is someone who can be stashed on your bench for now and inserted into your lineups should JCM not play or we get a more consistent approach to how the Commanders will treat this backfield now that Austin Ekeler (Achilles) is out for the season.
Sep 26, 2025 10:04 AM EST
The Athletic's Nicki Jhabvala predicts that Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. should get an opportunity to impact the field when his team lines up with the visiting Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday. Rodriguez Jr. was a healthy scratch for the team's first two contests, but Jhabvala credits that more to game-day roster construction than an indication of talent. While an accurate touch share can't be predicted, the 25-year-old figures to work in tandem with both rookie rusher Jacory Croskey-Merritt and veteran Jeremy McNichols. As of now, Croskey-Merritt should be favored for early-down work, with McNichols handling most of the passing situations and Rodriguez Jr. mixing in for both.
Sep 19, 2025 11:12 AM EST
With Austin Ekeler (Achilles) sidelined, Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. is set for an expanded role in Week 3. He now slots in as the change-of-pace option behind Jacory Croskey-Merritt and could see steady early work, especially if QB Jayden Daniels (knee) is limited against a fierce Raiders pass rush led by Maxx Crosby. Still, fantasy expectations should be tempered -- Las Vegas has allowed just 3.2 yards per carry and 70.5 rushing yards per game, making Rodriguez more of a deep-league stash than a plug-and-play option this week.
Sep 18, 2025 2:18 PM EST
Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. will be "back in the fold" for the team in Week 3, according to coach Dan Quinn. Rodriguez has been a healthy scratch for the first two games of the season since the Commanders relied on Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Austin Ekeler, and Jeremy McNichols to handle the load in the backfield. With Ekeler (Achilles) lost for the season, there will be significant work available in the Washington backfield going forward. Croskey-Merritt will step in as the lead back, but Rodriguez and McNichols will mix in as well. Rodriguez had an impressive training camp and preseason and could carve out significant playing time in the new timeshare, even though Quinn made sure to emphasize that the team is comfortable with Croskey-Merritt in passing situations. At this point, Rodriguez is a waiver wire option in deep leagues and definitely someone to watch in all formats to see how the timeshare is divied up in Week 3 against the Raiders.
Sep 16, 2025 9:47 AM EST
Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. is a healthy inactive for the second straight week to open the season in 2025 on Thursday Night Football against the Green Bay Packers. There were rumblings at the end of training camp that Rodriguez could have a significant early-down role alongside rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt after the team traded Brian Robinson Jr. to the San Francisco 49ers, but that has not been the case. The 24-year-old RB has opened the year as the No. 4 behind Croskey-Merritt, veteran Austin Ekeler, and Jeremy McNichols. JCR has the most upside of any back in Washington's offense as the favorite for most of the early down work, while Ekeler has flex appeal in point-per-reception leagues. At least for another week, Rodriguez belongs on the waiver wire in 12-team fantasy formats.
Sep 11, 2025 7:06 PM EST
Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. served as a healthy inactive in the season opener against the Giants. Rodriguez emerged in training camp as well as preseason, and he was in the mix for touches in the backfield headed into Week 1 after the Brian Robinson Jr. trade. However, Washington ultimately opted to keep three running backs active on gameday and roll with the duo of rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt and veteran Austin Ekeler to handle the bulk of the snaps, with Jeremy McNichols mixing in and contributing on special teams. It could have been just a Week 1 situation where they wanted a sixth wide receiver active with Noah Brown still limited, and it looks different in future weeks. It is possible that Rodriguez is made active for Washington's marquee matchup in Green Bay, but they have also been consistent in their praise for Croskey-Merritt, and the belief is that he will eventually be their lead back. Rodriguez will remain in a depth role for now, but he will be a name to watch if injuries start to hit.
Sep 11, 2025 10:50 AM EST
Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. (coach's decision) is a healthy scratch for Sunday's Week 1 contest against the New York Giants. It's no surprise that Washington is only carrying three active running backs on Sunday, but it's a bit stunning to see that Rodriguez is the odd man out. He drew praise from the coaching staff for his ability to step into a larger role this offseason, and he showed bursts of upside last year, such as Week 13, when he rushed for 95 yards and a touchdown. Austin Ekeler should lead the Washington backfield on Sunday while Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Jeremy McNichols also carve out significant roles.
Sep 7, 2025 11:43 AM EST
Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. has had a strong training camp and preseason, which ultimately led to his inclusion on the final roster. Rodriguez could play a significant role as the primary early-down back in Week 1 against the Giants. He proved to be up to the task in his small sample of touches last season, leading all running backs with at least 25 rushes in Success Rate at 57%. His peripherals are all very encouraging, and then he showed up to camp after off-season training with a transformed body, looking faster and leaner. The results have been positive with him reaching 20 MPH in practice more times this year than ever before, including on a breakaway run against the Bengals in Washington's second preseason game. The backfield will be by committee, and there is a lot of uncertainty for how it will all shake out. Rodriguez is a worthwhile stash to hold through Week 1 to see what happens, but not a startable option.
Sep 6, 2025 1:42 AM EST
Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. was deployed as the No. 4 option during the team drills on Wednesday. According to JP Finaly of NBC4, during a QB/RB drill, Rodriguez was the fourth running back to take the field. Veteran Austin Ekeler continued to slot in as the top option while Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Jeremy McNichols served as the No. 2 and No. 3 options. This situation is worth closely monitoring as Rodriguez was initially listed as the third option on the depth chart earlier in the week, but appears to have been jumped by the seventh-round rookie, Croskey-Merritt. Last season, Rodriguez had a limited role in the offense but showed potential at times, posting a strong 4.9 YPC. Given his unknown role in the season opener, he is best left for deeper 14+ team formats as a high-risk flex option.
Sep 3, 2025 4:23 PM EST
Josh Taylor of A to Z Sports thinks that Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury is likely to roll out running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. as the lead back in Week 1 of the regular season on Sunday against the division-rival New York Giants. Rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt has gotten a lot of hype this summer, but the Commanders could use a committee backfield approach involving Rodriguez, Croskey-Merritt, Austin Ekeler, receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. and quarterback Jayden Daniels. Rodriguez is an experienced back that has surprising speed in addition to being a power back. He ranked second in 2024 in PFF's elusive rating in fifth in yards after contact. It doesn't mean that Croskey-Merritt won't be a huge factor in 2025, though, and the Commanders haven't had a home run threat like him in a while. Rodriguez is rostered in 6% of Yahoo leagues and is worth watching if you already need RB depth.
Sep 1, 2025 7:51 PM EST
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